<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-29</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000225868</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RVSI.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001166428</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLOGG CAPITAL GROUP LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14 WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310674</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kellogg Group LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14 WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310672</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kellogg Charles K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14 WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001310673</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kellogg Lee</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14 WALL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>27TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10005</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2888200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 3 is filed jointly by Charles Kellogg, Lee Kellogg, Kellogg Group, LLC (&quot;Kellogg LLC&quot;) and Kellogg Capital Group, LLC (&quot;Kellogg Capital&quot;). Charles Kellogg, Lee Kellogg and Kellogg LLC are deemed to be 10% owners of the Issuer and Kellogg Capital is a 10% owner of the Issuer. The securities reported in this Form 3 are owned directly by Kellogg Capital, and owned indirectly by Kellogg LLC by virtue of it being the sole interest holder of Kellogg Capital and by Charles Kellogg and Lee Kellogg by virtue of their positions as controlling members of Kellogg LLC. Kellogg LLC, Charles Kellogg and Lee Kellogg disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares owned by Kellogg Capital except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kellogg Capital Group, LLC, By: /s/ Matthew Brand, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Kellogg Group, LLC, By: /s/ Matthew Brand, Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Charles K. Kellogg, By: /s/ Matthew Brand, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Lee Kellogg, By: /s/ Matthew Brand, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

